Dynamically adjusting power disturbance hold up times

ABSTRACT

Power line disturbance hold up times are dynamically adjusted prior to the commencement of the power disturbance failover based on battery capacity of batteries in racks of the storage system as the batteries either fail, are repaired, or are added to the storage system having at least one uninterruptible power supply (UPS).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates in general to computers, and moreparticularly to dynamically adjusting power disturbance hold up times ina storage system having a direct current (DC) uninterruptible powersupply (UPS) in a computing environment.

2. Description of the Related Art

In today's society, computer systems are commonplace. Computer systemsmay be found in the workplace, at home, or at school. Computer systemsmay include data storage systems, or disk storage systems, to processand store data. Large amounts of data have to be processed daily and thecurrent trend suggests that these amounts will continue beingever-increasing in the foreseeable future. These computing systemrequiring a continuous power supply for performance. In some storagesystems, an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), also known as anuninterruptible power source, uninterruptible power system, continuouspower supply (CPS), or a battery backup is a device is included whichmaintains a continuous supply of electrical power to connected equipmentby supplying power from a separate source when utility power is notavailable. A UPS differs from an auxiliary power supply or standbygenerator, which generally does not provide instant protection from amomentary power interruption.

SUMMARY OF THE DESCRIBED EMBODIMENTS

In one embodiment, a method is provided for dynamically adjusting powerdisturbance hold up times in a storage system having a direct current(DC) uninterruptible power supply (UPS) by a processor device in acomputing environment. In one embodiment, by way of example only, powerline disturbance hold up times are dynamically adjusted prior to thecommencement of the power disturbance failover based on battery capacityof batteries in racks of the storage system as the batteries eitherfail, are repaired, or are added to the storage system having at leastone uninterruptible power supply (UPS).

In another embodiment, a computer system is provided for dynamicallyadjusting power disturbance hold up times in a storage system having adirect current (DC) uninterruptible power supply (UPS) by at least oneprocessor device in a computing environment. The computer systemincludes a computer-readable medium and a processor in operablecommunication with the computer-readable medium. In one embodiment, byway of example only, the processor dynamically adjusts power linedisturbance hold up times prior to the commencement of the powerdisturbance failover based on battery capacity of batteries in racks ofthe storage system as the batteries either fail, are repaired, or areadded to the storage system having at least one uninterruptible powersupply (UPS).

In a further embodiment, a computer program product is provided fordynamically adjusting power disturbance hold up times in a storagesystem having a direct current (DC) uninterruptible power supply (UPS)by at least one processor device in a computing environment. Thecomputer-readable storage medium has computer-readable program codeportions stored thereon. The computer-readable program code portionsinclude a first executable portion that dynamically adjusts power linedisturbance hold up times prior to the commencement of the powerdisturbance failover based on battery capacity of batteries in racks ofthe storage system as the batteries either fail, are repaired, or areadded to the storage system having at least one uninterruptible powersupply (UPS).

In addition to the foregoing exemplary method embodiment, otherexemplary system and computer product embodiments are provided andsupply related advantages. The foregoing summary has been provided tointroduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are furtherdescribed below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is notintended to identify key features or essential features of the claimedsubject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determiningthe scope of the claimed subject matter. The claimed subject matter isnot limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages notedin the background.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the advantages of the invention will be readilyunderstood, a more particular description of the invention brieflydescribed above will be rendered by reference to specific embodimentsthat are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that thesedrawings depict embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to beconsidered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be describedand explained with additional specificity and detail through the use ofthe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary direct currentuninterruptible power supply (DC UPS);

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a computing system environmenthaving an example storage device in which aspects of the presentinvention may be realized;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method for dynamicallyadjusting power disturbance hold up times in a storage system having adirect current (DC) uninterruptible power supply (UPS) in which aspectsof the present invention may be realized;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a high end multi-rack storagesystem in which aspects of the present invention may be realized;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a power disturbance failover in ahigh-end rack of a storage system in which aspects of the presentinvention may be realized; and

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an alternative power disturbancefailover in a high end rack of a storage system in which aspects of thepresent invention may be realized;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method for dynamicallyadjusting power line disturbance hold up times prior to the commencementof the power disturbance failover based on battery capacity of batteriesin racks of the storage system in which aspects of the present inventionmay be realized;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method for dynamicallyupdating power line disturbance hold up times prior to the commencementof the power disturbance failover when a UPS or at least one BSM set isrepaired and becomes available in racks of the storage system in whichaspects of the present invention may be realized; and

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method for dynamicallyupdating power line disturbance hold up times in which aspects of thepresent invention may be realized

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

As mentioned above, an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), also known asan uninterruptible power source, uninterruptible power system,continuous power supply (CPS), or a battery backup is a device whichmaintains a continuous supply of electrical power to connected equipmentby supplying power from a separate source when utility power is notavailable. A UPS differs from an auxiliary power supply or standbygenerator, which generally does not provide instant protection from amomentary power interruption.

While not limited to safeguarding any particular type of equipment, aUPS protects computers, telecommunications equipment, and/or otherelectrical equipment where an unexpected power disruption could causeinjuries, business disruption, or data loss. UPS units range in sizefrom units that will back up a single computer to units that will powerentire data centers or buildings.

The single phase AC electrical power available in computer orinformation technology (IT) centers is often classified as either lowvoltage or high voltage. The low voltage range is traditionally 90 to132 VAC. The high voltage range is traditionally 180 to 264 VAC.

In high end storage systems, surviving and reducing power linedisturbances is critical to system availability. In one embodiment, in adirect current uninterruptible power supply (DC UPS) system the numberof batteries in the system determines how long the system power linedisturbance hold up time may be. Thus as batteries are added to thesystem, or as batteries fail, the time the DC UPS can hold up the systemchanges as well. Failure to have the correct power line disturbance holdup time value at any given time will result in either data loss and/ordata access loss. In the case that the extended power line disturbance(ePLD) value is left too high, the power controller has the batterieshold up the system too long before starting the modified data dump andthen the batteries don't have enough capacity to dump the data tonon-volatile storage thus causing data loss. In the case where the holdup time is left too low, an un-warranted access loss may occur as thesystem starts the modified data dump too soon when the system actuallyhad a enough capacity to continue to hold up the system (e.g. the holdup time is set up to 5 seconds but actually have battery capacity tohold up 50 seconds).

In one embodiment, the power line disturbance hold up time is controlledby the power controller, which communicates with the UPS System. Whenthe UPS system indicates that a rack in a storage system is running onbattery power, then the power control starts a countdown of the powerline disturbance hold up time before notifying the system to dump themodified customer data and shutdown. For instance, if the power linedisturbance hold up time register in the power controller was set to 15seconds then the controller would wait 15 seconds before starting thesystem shutdown. If power is restored before the 15 second timer expiresthen no shutdown is performed. In one embodiment, the present inventionwould set the value statically and/or dynamically based on how manybatteries are installed in the system at manufacturing time. Asbatteries fail/replaced the ePLD hold up time is not changed.

However, as batteries fail, are added, are removed, and/or are replacedinto a system, the present invention may set the correct power linedisturbance hold up time value accordingly. Thus, in one embodiment, thepresent invention provides a solution that dynamically adjusts the powerline disturbance hold up time based on how much battery capacity is inthe system. The main advantage of this is the power line disturbancevalue is always set based on how much battery capacity the systemcurrently has rather than the number of batteries, thus avoiding dataloss or loss of data access when a power line disturbance occurs.

In one embodiment, by way of example only, the present inventionprovides an algorithm to dynamically adjust the power disturbancefailover hold up time before beginning the power line disturbancefailover based on a current status of the batteries in the racks of thesystem after monitoring a failure or addition of batteries. In thealgorithm, even if a rack in the system has dropped one of the duplicateUPS elements, the power line disturbance hold up time is based on thenumber remaining good batteries (e.g., batteries having a charge) in thesurviving UPS element, and selects the system power line disturbancehold up time based on the rack with a shortest power line disturbancehold up time. In one embodiment, the UPSx are redundant power systemswithin each rack and the battery capacity for each rack is calculated bythe maximum number of good batteries from any surviving UPS inside therack (e.g., if Rack-A of UPS0 has only 2 good batteries but UPS1 has 3good batteries, then Rack-A is still considered to have 3 batterycapacity.)

In one embodiment, the present invention provides an algorithm todynamically change power line disturbance hold up times based on batterycapacity and enables the system to set the correct power linedisturbance hold up time value accordingly as batteries are added,removed, fail, and/or are replaced into a system. The present inventionprovides an advantage in that the power line disturbance hold up timevalue is always set based on how much battery capacity the systemcurrently has and thus avoiding data loss or loss of access when a powerline disturbance occurs.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides an algorithm todynamically change power line disturbance hold up times based on batterycapacity in a high end multi-rack storage system having at least oneuninterruptible power supply (UPS), a battery service module (BSM), anextended power line disturbance (ePLD). The present invention alsoprovides a procedure showing how the system dynamically changes the ePLDvalue when a UPS or battery failure occurs, and a procedure showing howthe power line disturbance hold up time is dynamically updated when aUPS or BSM set is repaired and comes back available, and a procedureshowing how the system sets a new ePLD hold up time value based on aconfiguration value. The present invention dynamically updates the newpower line disturbance hold up time in the power controller when newbatteries are installed to UPS on each rack shown in this disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary direct currentuninterruptible power supply (DC UPS). Turning to FIG. 1, an exemplaryDC UPS 10 is illustrated in which aspects of the present invention maybe implemented. It should be appreciated, however, that FIG. 1 is onlyexemplary and is not intended to state or imply any limitation as to theparticular architectures in which the exemplary aspects of theillustrative embodiments may be implemented. Many modifications to thearchitecture depicted in FIG. 1 may be made without departing from thescope and spirit of the following description and claimed subjectmatter.

DC UPS 10 includes at least one input 12. The input 12 may accept DC orrectified AC power. The input 12 is connected to circuit protectiondevice 18. Circuit protection device 18 may, as one skilled in the artwill anticipate, vary for a particular implementation. For example,circuit protection device 18 may include fuses, fuse elements, fusiblelinks, circuit breakers, and the like as the skilled artisan willexpect.

Circuit protection device 18 is connected to a rectifier. In thedepicted embodiment, full wave rectifier 24 is shown connected tocircuit protection device 18. The full wave rectifier 24 is connected toa common node 30. In other embodiments, however, the rectifier 24 may bea half wave rectifier 24.

A battery 32 supplies backup current in the event of a power disruption.Battery 32 is connected between ground 34 and a disconnect switch 36.Disconnect switch 38 is in turn connected to a blocking diode 38.Disconnect switch 38 may be actuated by a controller 40. For example,disconnect switch 38 may be a relay or a similar device. Controller 40may provide a control signal to the disconnect switch 38 upon adetection of a power disruption from one or more of the inputs 12. Asone skilled in the art will expect, disconnect switch 38 may includetransistor devices, such as metal oxide semiconductor field effecttransistors (MOSFETs).

Circuit protection device 42 is shown connected to the common node 30,and corresponds to one of three DC outputs 54, 56 and 58. DC outputs 54,56, and 58 are adapted for connection to at least one electrical load.The connected load(s) are shared between the outputs 54, 56, and 58.Circuit protection devices 42, 44, and 46 may again include fuse andcircuit breaker devices as previously described to isolate load faults.

DC UPS 10 rectifies input current through input 12. In cases of morethan one input 12, each having an input current, the outputs of each ofthe rectified currents are combined at common node 30.

To implement DC UPS 10 in an embodiment that provides auto-rangingbackup voltage capability, a battery backup circuit may be substitutedfor the battery 32 as shown in FIG. 1.

Turning now to FIG. 2, exemplary architecture 210 of a computing systemenvironment is depicted. The computer system 210 includes centralprocessing unit (CPU) 212, which is connected to communication port 218and memory device 216. The communication port 218 is in communicationwith a communication network 220. The communication network 220 andstorage network may be configured to be in communication with server(hosts) 224 and storage systems, which may include storage devices 214.The storage systems may include hard disk drive (HDD) devices,solid-state devices (SSD) etc., which may be configured in a redundantarray of independent disks (RAID). The operations as described below maybe executed on storage device(s) 214, located in system 210 or elsewhereand may have multiple memory devices 216 working independently and/or inconjunction with other CPU devices 212. Memory device 216 may includesuch memory as electrically erasable programmable read only memory(EEPROM) or a host of related devices. Memory device 216 and storagedevices 214 are connected to CPU 212 via a signal-bearing medium. Inaddition, CPU 212 is connected through communication port 218 to acommunication network 220, having an attached plurality of additionalcomputer host systems 224. In addition, memory device 216 and the CPU212 may be embedded and included in each component of the computingsystem 210. Each storage system may also include separate and/ordistinct memory devices 216 and CPU 212 that work in conjunction or as aseparate memory device 216 and/or CPU 212.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method 300 fordynamically adjusting power line disturbance hold up times in a storagesystem having a direct current (DC) uninterruptible power supply (UPS)in which aspects of the present invention may be realized. The method300 begins (step 302). The method 300 dynamically adjusts power linedisturbance hold up times prior to the commencement of the power linedisturbance failover based on battery capacity of batteries in racks ofthe storage system as the batteries either fail, are repaired, and/orare added to the storage system having at least one uninterruptiblepower supply (UPS) (step 304). The method 300 ends (step 306).

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a high end multi-rack storagesystem 400 in in which aspects of the present invention may be realized.In one embodiment, a high end multi-rack storage system 400 includes atleast one direct current (DC) uninterruptible power supply (UPS) 406(shown as 406A-E) in each rack 402A-C. In each UPS 406A-E, a batteryservice module (BSM) 404 (shown in FIG. 4 as 404A-F) is included in eachin each rack 402A-C. Each DC UPS 406A-E has 1 to 3 BSM Sets 404A-Fdepending on how much power line disturbance hold up time a user desiresto have (the BSM sets may be more than 3 and is shown by way of exampleonly). For example, consider the following scenario. One BSM set 404 perDC UPS 406 equals 5 second power line disturbance hold up times. Asecond BSM Set 404 per DC UPS 406 equals 50 second power linedisturbance hold up times. A third or nth BSM Set 404 per DC UPS 406equals 240 second power line disturbance hold up times. Assume thesystem has 3 BSM Sets 404 in each UPS 406 for a power line disturbancehold up time of 240 seconds. Also, one or more various types of server408 may be included and shown in FIG. 4, by way of example only, withdisk drive module “DDM” (e.g., hard drives) and coraid ethernet console(CEC) servers. Now, focusing on one of the racks 402, the scenario isnow experiencing a power line disturbance hold up time failure asdepicted in FIG. 5.

Turning now to FIG. 5, a block diagram illustrating a power disturbancefailover in a high-end rack of a storage system 500, the followingfailure scenario is depicted. For example, in the power line disturbancehold up time failure scenario, where the a rack 502 in the system 500 nolong has enough good batteries 506 (e.g., charged batteries) of thebattery service module (BSM) 506 (shown as 506A-B in FIG. 5), which isindicated with an “X” labeled on the bad batteries (BSM 1 and BSM 2) ofthe BSMs 506A-B (e.g., insufficient charge) having an insufficientcharge to hold the system 500 up for 240 seconds. The rack 502 has had abattery fail in each DC UPS 504A-B. As such, this rack 502 can now onlysupport 50 second power line disturbance hold up time, based on theexample scenario of FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. Also, one or more various typesof servers may be included in the rack may be included (see similarfeatures in FIG. 4, by way of example only, with disk drive module “DDM”(e.g., hard drives) and coraid ethernet console (CEC) servers).

Continuing on with the scenario's from FIG. 4-5, a third and/or an nthrack may also experience a power disturbance failover, as depicted inFIG. 6. Turning now to FIG. 6, a block diagram illustrating analternative power disturbance failover in an nth high-end rack of astorage system 600, the following failure scenario is depicted. Asillustrated in FIG. 6. an nth and/or a third rack 602 in the system nolonger has enough good batteries 606 (e.g., sufficiently chargedbatteries) of the battery service module (BSM) 606 (shown as 606A-B inFIG. 6), which is indicated with an “X” labeled on the bad batteries ofBSM 1, BSM 2, and BSM 3 in UPS 604A and BSM 2 of UPS 604B, to hold thesystem up for 240 seconds since the rack 602 has one DC UPS 604A failand at least one battery (BSM 2) of the BSM 606A. Thus, the presentinvention provides a solution to prevent these scenarios by dynamicallyadjusting the power line disturbance hold up times in FIGS. 4-6 prior tothe commencement of the power disturbance failover based on batterycapacity of batteries in racks of the storage system as the batterieseither fail, are repaired, and/or are added to the storage system havingat least one uninterruptible power supply (UPS). Also, one or morevarious types of servers may be included in the rack may be included(see similar features in FIG. 4, by way of example only, with disk drivemodule “DDM” (e.g., hard drives) and/or coraid ethernet console (CEC)servers).

As illustrated in FIG. 7, FIG. 7 describes how, as these powerdisturbance failures occur as depicted in FIGS. 5-6, the presentinvention dynamically changes the ePLD values when a UPS and/or at leastone battery failure occurs. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating anexemplary method 700 for dynamically adjusting power line disturbancehold up times prior to the commencement of the power disturbancefailover based on battery capacity of batteries in racks of the storagesystem in which aspects of the present invention may be realized. Themethod 700 begins (step 702). The method 700 sets a power linedisturbance (PLD) hold up timer value based on a configuration (step704). The method 700 monitors and detects a failure of at least onebattery and/or at least one uninterruptible power supply (UPS) (step706). The method 700 determines if all of the racks in the storagesystem have enough good batteries (e.g., defining good batteries asbatteries that have a sufficient charge) to support the current powerline disturbance hold up time (step 708). If yes, the method 700 exitsand the power line disturbance hold up (PLD) timer value is not changed(step 710). If no, the method 700 determines which of the racks has thefewest number of good batteries (step 712). The determined rack isconsidered the weakest rack. The method 700 determines how much powerline disturbance this weakest rack can support (step 714). The method700 writes a new power line disturbance hold up time into a powercontroller (step 716). The method 700 ends (step 718).

Thus, as described and using the failure examples above (see FIG. 5-6),to illustrate the present invention, the nth and/or third rack of thestorage system may only support a 50 second power line disturbance sothe hold up timer would dynamically be changed from 240 seconds to 50seconds for the entire system. In this way, the system is guaranteeingthat if a power outage occurs for less than 50 seconds the system willcontinue to ride through the power outage without shutting down. Also,the present invention ensures that if a power outage exceeds 50 secondsthat the entire system starts the shutdown at 50 seconds (e.g., theweakest rack is required to start shutdown at 50 seconds) and all userdata is able to be saved prior to any of the batteries running out ofcapacity to hold the system up.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the present invention describes how the powerline disturbance hold up time is dynamically updated when a UPS and/orat least one BSM set is repaired and/or comes back available. FIG. 8 isa flowchart illustrating an exemplary method 800 for dynamicallyupdating power line disturbance hold up times prior to the commencementof the power disturbance failover when a UPS or at least one BSM set(and/or at least one battery) is repaired and becomes available in racksof the storage system in which aspects of the present invention may berealized. The method 800 begins (step 802). The method 800 performs andcompletes at least one battery and/or at least one direct current (DC)uninterruptible power supply (UPS) repair action (step 804). The method800 waits for at least one new battery to charge for a predeterminedamount of time (step 806). The method 800 determines if at least one ofthe new batteries added is charged (step 808). If no, the method 800exits and the power line disturbance hold up (PLD) timer value is notchanged (step 812). If yes, the method 800 determines if every rack inthe storage system is able to support an increased power linedisturbance hold up time (step 810). If no, the method 800 exits and thepower line disturbance hold up timer value is not changed (step 812). Ifyes, the method 800 determines which of the racks has the fewest numberof good batteries (step 814). The determined rack with the fewest numberof good batteries (e.g., charged batteries) is considered the weakestrack. The method 800 determines how much power line disturbance thisweakest rack can support (step 816). The method 800 writes a new powerline disturbance hold up time into a power controller (step 818). Themethod 800 ends (step 820).

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the present invention describes how storagesystem sets a new power line disturbance hold up time base configurationvalue and also dynamically updates when the new power line disturbancehold up time to a power controller when new batteries are installed ontoat least one UPS and on each rack. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating anexemplary method 900 for dynamically updating power line disturbancehold up times in which aspects of the present invention may be realized.The method 900 begins (step 902). The method 900 adds at least one newbattery to at least one direct current (DC) uninterruptible power supply(UPS) on each rack of the storage system (step 904). The method 900monitors and determines if the batteries are completely charged (step906). If no, the method 900 returns and continues to monitor anddetermine if the batteries are completely charged (step 906). If yes,the method 900 determines if each rack has new and fully chargedbatteries to support an increase in the power line disturbance hold uptime (step 908). If no, the method 900 returns and continues to monitorand determine if the batteries are completely charged (step 906). Ifyes, the method 900 updates the power line disturbance hold up time baseconfiguration value to an increased power line disturbance hold up timeand writes the new power line disturbance hold up time in the powercontroller (step 912).

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the presentinvention may be embodied as a system, method or computer programproduct. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the formof an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment(including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or anembodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may allgenerally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.”Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of acomputer program product embodied in one or more computer readablemedium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon.

Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may beutilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signalmedium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readablestorage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic,magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system,apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. Morespecific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readablestorage medium would include the following: an electrical connectionhaving one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, arandom access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber,a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storagedevice, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storagemedium may be any tangible medium that may contain, or store a programfor use by or in connection with an instruction execution system,apparatus, or device.

Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmittedusing any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless,wired, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination of theforegoing. Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspectsof the present invention may be written in any combination of one ormore programming languages, including an object oriented programminglanguage such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventionalprocedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming languageor similar programming languages. The program code may execute entirelyon the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alonesoftware package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remotecomputer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latterscenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computerthrough any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or awide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an externalcomputer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet ServiceProvider).

Aspects of the present invention have been described above withreference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods,apparatus (systems) and computer program products according toembodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block ofthe flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations ofblocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, may beimplemented by computer program instructions. These computer programinstructions may be provided to a processor of a general purposecomputer, special purpose computer, or other programmable dataprocessing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions,which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmabledata processing apparatus, create means for implementing thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computerreadable medium that may direct a computer, other programmable dataprocessing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readablemedium produce an article of manufacture including instructions whichimplement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. The computer program instructions may also beloaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, orother devices to cause a series of operational steps to be performed onthe computer, other programmable apparatus or other devices to produce acomputer implemented process such that the instructions which execute onthe computer or other programmable apparatus provide processes forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the above figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof code, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be notedthat, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in theblock may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, twoblocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantiallyconcurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverseorder, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be notedthat each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, andcombinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchartillustration, may be implemented by special purpose hardware-basedsystems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations ofspecial purpose hardware and computer instructions.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for reducing power disturbance failoverin a storage system by a processor device in a computing environment,comprising: dynamically adjusting power line disturbance hold up timesprior to the commencement of the power disturbance failover based onbattery capacity of a plurality of batteries in a plurality of racks ofthe storage system as the plurality of batteries are one of failing,being repaired, and being added to the storage system having at leastone uninterruptible power supply (UPS); determining which one of theplurality of racks has a fewest number of remaining batteries of theplurality of batteries having the battery capacity; and determining anamount of the power line disturbance the one of the plurality of racks,having the fewest number of remaining batteries of the plurality ofbatteries with the battery capacity, is able to support.
 2. The methodof claim 1, further including performing one of: monitoring for thefailure of one of the plurality of batteries, repairing one of theplurality of batteries, and adding at least one new battery to theplurality of batteries.
 3. The method of claim 1, further includingsetting the power line disturbance hold up time based on a number ofremaining batteries of the plurality of batteries with the batterycapacity in a surviving one of the at least one UPS.
 4. The method ofclaim 1, further including selecting the power line disturbance hold uptime having a shortest hold up time in one of the plurality of racks. 5.The method of claim 1, further including writing a new power linedisturbance hold up time into a power controller.
 6. The method of claim1, further including performing one of: performing a repair operation onone of a battery in the plurality of batteries and the UPS, waiting forat least one new battery of the plurality of batteries to charge for apredetermined time period, determining if the at least one new batteryof the plurality of batteries charged, determining if the plurality ofracks is able to support an increased power line disturbance hold uptime, and updating the power line disturbance hold up time upon addingat least one new battery to the plurality of batteries.
 7. A system forreducing power disturbance failover in a storage system of a computingenvironment, the system comprising: the storage system; a plurality ofracks in the storage system; a plurality of batteries in the pluralityof racks; at least one uninterruptible power supply (UPS) in the storagesystem in association with the plurality of batteries and the pluralityof racks; a power controller in association with the at least one UPS;and at least one processor device operable in the computing environment,wherein the at least one processor device: dynamically adjusts powerline disturbance hold up times prior to the commencement of the powerdisturbance failover based on battery capacity of the plurality ofbatteries in the plurality of racks of the storage system as theplurality of batteries are one of failing, being repaired, and beingadded to the storage system having at least one uninterruptible powersupply (UPS), determines which one of the plurality of racks has afewest number of remaining batteries of the plurality of batterieshaving the battery capacity, and determines an amount of the power linedisturbance the one of the plurality of racks, having the fewest numberof remaining batteries of the plurality of batteries with the batterycapacity, is able to support.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the atleast one processor device performs one of: monitoring for the failureof one of the plurality of batteries, repairing one of the plurality ofbatteries, and adding at least one new battery to the plurality ofbatteries.
 9. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one processordevice sets the power line disturbance hold up time based on a number ofremaining batteries of the plurality of batteries with the batterycapacity in a surviving one of the at least one UPS.
 10. The system ofclaim 7, wherein the at least one processor device selects the powerline disturbance hold up time having a shortest hold up time in one ofthe plurality of racks.
 11. The system of claim 7, wherein the at leastone processor device writes a new power line disturbance hold up timeinto the power controller.
 12. The system of claim 7, wherein the atleast one processor device performs one of: performing a repairoperation on one of a battery in the plurality of batteries and the UPS,waiting for at least one new battery of the plurality of batteries tocharge for a predetermined time period, determining if the at least onenew battery of the plurality of batteries charged, determining if theplurality of racks is able to support an increased power linedisturbance hold up time, and updates the power line disturbance hold uptime upon adding at least one new battery to the plurality of batteries.13. A computer program product for reducing power disturbance failoverin a storage system by a processor device in a computing environment,the computer program product comprising a non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program codeportions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portionscomprising: a first executable portion that dynamically adjusts powerline disturbance hold up times prior to the commencement of the powerdisturbance failover based on battery capacity of a plurality ofbatteries in a plurality of racks of the storage system as the pluralityof batteries are one of failing, being repaired, and being added to thestorage system having at least one uninterruptible power supply (UPS);determines which one of the plurality of racks has a fewest number ofremaining batteries of the plurality of batteries having the batterycapacity; and determines an amount of the power line disturbance the oneof the plurality of racks, having the fewest number of remainingbatteries of the plurality of batteries with the battery capacity, isable to support.
 14. The computer program product of claim 13, furtherincluding a second executable portion that performs one of: monitoringfor the failure of one of the plurality of batteries, repairing one ofthe plurality of batteries, and adding at least one new battery to theplurality of batteries.
 15. The computer program product of claim 13,further including a second executable portion that performs one of:setting the power line disturbance hold up time based on a number ofremaining batteries of the plurality of batteries with the batterycapacity in a surviving one of the at least one UPS, and selecting thepower line disturbance hold up time having a shortest hold up time inone of the plurality of racks.
 16. The computer program product of claim13, further including a second executable portion that writes a newpower line disturbance hold up time into the power controller.
 17. Thecomputer program product of claim 13, further including a secondexecutable portion that performs one of: performing a repair operationon one of a battery in the plurality of batteries and the UPS, waitingfor at least one new battery of the plurality of batteries to charge fora predetermined time period, determining if the at least one new batteryof the plurality of batteries charged, and determining if the pluralityof racks is able to support an increased power line disturbance hold uptime, and updating the power line disturbance hold up time upon addingat least one new battery to the plurality of batteries.